N’Senga Kinzonzi’s life was threatened by a racist classmate via Snapchat on Thursday.
The classmate posted a photo of her, calling her a racial slur, and added a disgusting caption, which included the n-word and the phrase “We must lynch her.”
Imagine the terror that ran through the sophomore’s mind as she read those words and viewed the image of her face.
A tearful Kinzonzi described her thoughts: “I thought maybe he doesn’t know the history and I thought I’d take an educational approach and inform the student about the history behind this hurtful caption.”
Instead of approaching her problematic classmate in anger, she attempted to educate the student on the historical implications of lynching in this country. The classmate “apologized,” but the school neither the district has taken any action.
“This was a threat made on her life, and there was a call for others to participate in this. The caption said ‘we’ must lynch her,” mother Nicole Kinzonzi said.
According to the school district’s website, Minisink Valley Superintendent Brian Monohan addressed the issues with a statement:
“The district has no tolerance for hateful language or any type of conduct that endangers the physical or emotional sense of safety and security of our students and staff. Those who choose to test these boundaries will endure the consequences outlined by the district’s code of conduct, and/or those under the law.”
Clearly, “the boundaries were tested” so why wasn’t the student reprimanded
Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, N.Y., has a total student population of 1,354 students of which only 311 students or 23 percent are minorities. This would lead many to believe that there is a lack of diversity at the high school and this offense hasn’t been taken as serious as it should be.
The younger Kinzonzi stated that she has received support and harassment from other students since the incident.
Her grandmother insisted that diversity training be included within the curriculum, as well as adding a more diverse staff. She also stated: “And if we’re not teaching all of American history, we are not teaching.”
